The national chart of South Africa

South Africa has a long and turbulent history
and many critical "births", beginning with the first European settlement at Table
Bay in 1652. The Union
of South Africa occurred on 31 May 1910, but this "incarnation" of the nation
was not yet truly independent, nor did it reflect the will of the majority of
its people. On 27 April 1994, under a powerful opposition between the Sun in
earthy, tenacious Taurus and Jupiter in intense, passionate Scorpio, the new
multi-racial constitution came into effect, promising an end to nearly four centuries
of suffering, violence, inequality, and exploitation.

This birth horoscope, with
its conjunction of the Moon and Pluto in Scorpio, subtly portrays the dark
inheritance of the past, which at the same time contains enormous possibilities
for transformation
and renewal. For some time the transits of Uranus and Neptune, making difficult
aspects to these planets placed in Taurus and Scorpio in the national chart,
have described a situation of both extreme tension and enormous creative possibilities.

Pluto, moving through Sagittarius and making challenging aspects to
the national Saturn (the entrenched, defensive elements within the country)
and the national
Mars (the aggressive and progressive energies within the national psyche),
reflects a life-or-death struggle and a sometimes violent release of
the poisons of the
past. This astrological picture defines what has been, in effect, a long
labour and a difficult, dangerous birth, and the tensions symbolised
by these aspects
are likely to continue on political, social and economic levels for some
time.

However, over the next few years Uranus, moving into the inclusive
and visionary
sign of Pisces, makes extremely positive aspects to all these planets,
suggesting that tolerance, understanding, and a truly democratic vision
of the future
will ultimately ensure a harmonising of conflicting elements and
a willingness to
relinquish the bitterness of the past.

Whatever your personal views on
the present tension in South Africa, this nation, both old and new
at the
same time, has
a phoenix-like capacity to rise triumphantly from the ashes of its long
turmoil.

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